Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected JesusBorn to set Thy people free;From our fears and sins release us,Let us find our rest in Thee.Israel’s Strength and Consolation,Hope of all the earth Thou art;Dear Desire of every nation,Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,Born a child and yet a King,Born to reign in us forever,Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.By Thine own eternal SpiritRule in all our hearts alone;By Thine all sufficient merit,Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Charles Wesley, one of the greatest hymn writers ever born, was born this date, 12/18/1707 at Epworth Rectory, England. He became what may be called the “co-founder” of Methodism. (Anyone wishing to deny him that title remember – we know more theology from his sacred hymns than we do, with all due respect, from John’s sermons.) Charles was the eighteenth child of his Anglican pastor father, Samuel, and his methodical mother, Susanna.

The Wesleys and their friends formed the “Holy Club,” a group derisively called “Methodists” for their methodical form of piety. He was ordained an Anglican minister in 1735 but had a radical conversion to Christ 5/20/1738 three days prior to John’s Aldersgate experience. Between 1737 and 1742 he and John published six volumes of original hymns. Recently the United Methodist hymnal still had seventy-three of these poems the Lord gave him. He penned more than 6,500 in total.

Among his best-known works are “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” (Resurrection Lord’s Day), “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” and the above (both about Christ’s Birth). He is said to have written his last hymn his last day on earth, 3/29/1788 – no early retirement with Charles Wesley.